Electrically heated goggles



June 25, 1934- A. H. GILKEsoN Er AL ELECTRICALLY HEATED GOGGLES FiledAug. 24, 1932 ATTORNETJ Patented June26, 1934 1,963,990 ELECTRICAILYHEATED GOGGLES Adlai H. Gilkeson, Mount Clemens, Mich., and James H.Herr, Dayton, Ohio Application August 24, 1932, Serial No. 630,260 4Claims. (Cl. 214) (Granted under me et of Maren 3, 1x83, as

amended April 3o, 192s; 31o o. G. 151) The invention described hereinmay be manulenses are curved in the direction of their major facturedand used by or for the Goverment for axis or horizontally when inposition, as in the governmental purposes, without the payment toconstruction shown in Fig. 2, the frame member us of any royaltythereon. 15 andlens holding member 16 are correspond- 5 They presentinvention relates generally to ingly curved l, horizontally. The mainframe goggles or eye protectors for aviators or the like members 15 havetheir rearward edges 17 formed and has for a primary object theconstruction of to fit the face of the wearer as shown in Fig. 2.

a goggle that is non-frosting or non-fogging in The nose piece or bridge11 heretofore mencharacter so that clear vision therethrough willtioned, by which the two eye cups are connected be obtained regardless`of climatic conditions. is adjustable, as shown in Fig. 2, to permit arela- 05 Another objectof the present invention is to tive adiustment ofthe eye units or cups toward provide a goggle incorporating a heatingelement and away from each otherso that the goggle may so positionedwith respect to the lens of the goggle be suited to individuals havingtheir visual axes that a higher temperature is obtained and mainmore orless widely spaced.

15 tained on the face of the lens in order to prevent The rearward edgeof each frame member 15 70 the formation of fog, ice, or moisture on thesaid may be provided with any suitable cushioning lens. means adapted tobear against and make close Another object of the present invention isto contact with the face of the wearer, as shown in provide a goggle ofthe double lens type having Figs. 3 and 5. The rearward or inner edges18 5 a heating element so disposed within the space of the'frame members15 are turned or flanged 7 between the lenses of the goggle that an evendisoutwardly and the cushion strips 19 are secured tribution of heat toboth lenses will be obtained. to the inner faces of the frame members'soas With these and otherobjectsinview, the invento seatagainst theflanged edges. Any suitable tion consists in various details ofconstruction form of cushion strip may be employed, but we as moreparticularly hereinafterdescribed and consider a cushion of suitablesoft material, such 80 as shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:as sponge rubber or the like of the correct shape Fig. l is a frontelevation of an eye protector to `flt the contour of the face as mostsuitable for embodying the invention; meeting the exacting requirementsof aviators Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; goggles. n

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on ,the line 3-3 The outer end of eacheye unit is provided with 85 of Fig. l; a swinging link or connectingpiece 20 for receiv- Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a modified form ingthe ends of the usual head straps or bands of the front elevation; and21, which extend about the head of the wearer Fig. 5 is a sectional viewtaken on the line 5--5 to hold the goggles in position.

of Fig. 4. With goggles which lit closely against the face 90 Referringmore particularly to the drawing, of the wearer, it is desirable andnecessary to wherein corresponding parts are designated by Provide meansfOr effectively Ventilating the like numerals throughout the severalviews, the chambers within the eye cups both for comfort eye protectorherein illustrated includes as usual of the wearer and in order to avoidcondensation a pair of eye pieces or units l0, usually termed eye ofmoisture on the inner side of the lens. Such cups, connected by a nosepiece or bridge 11, means includes a series of small openings 22 in Eacheye cup is provided with a pair of lenses 12 the lower wall of the framemembers l5 adapted and 13l of glass or other suitable transparent maforadmitting air into the cup chambers of the terial, which are separatedby a rim spacer 14, as eye units 10. 'The upper walls of the framememshown in Fig. 3, and a frame which extends about bers l5 are providedwith Venturi tubes 23, which 100 the eye of the wearer and by which thelenses of communicate with the cup chambers whereby each eye cup aresupported in desired position, currents of air will be caused to enterthe charn- Each frame comprises a main frame member 15 bers through theinternal openings 22. The tubes and a ilanged lens holding rim 16. Theframe 23 are so arranged that when worn upon the face member 15 is of aform correspond-ing to the of the wearer air currents in passing throughthe shape of the lenses, usually approximately oval in tubes 23 willcreate a draft through the cup chamform, and made of suitable sheetmetal or other bers and in so doing the temperature of the air suitablerigid and strong material and of a suit'- in the cup chambers ismaintained as nearly as able depth to support the lenses at the properpossible the same as the temperature of the outdistance from the eyes ofthe wearer. When the side atmosphere. As has been mentioned heretoforeeach eye unit 10 is provided with a pair of lenses 12 and 13, which areseparated by a rim spacer 14 disposed adjacent the peripheral edges ofthe lenses. This rim spacer 14 is formed of insulating material asindicated in Fig. 3. As will be noted by referring to this figure, therim spacer conforms substantially in shape to the contour of the lenses12 and 13 and is provided with an internal V-shaped groove 24 adapted toreceive and support a heating element 25, such as resistance wire or thelike. The V-shaped groove 24 is equally spaced from the opposed innerfaces of the lenses 12 and 13 and by providing a groove of this natureradiation of heat from the heating element directly to each lens will beobtained and an even distribution of heat thereto will be effected. Thusthe temperature of the lenses will be materially increased to preventthe accumulation of sleet, snow or moisture thereon and clear visionwill be maintained. Suitable connectors 26 and 27 are provided on eacheye unit and insulated therefrom to which the heating elements in eacheye unit may be electrically connected either in series or in parallel.

Figs. 4 and 5 show a modification of our invention. In this embodimentthe eye units 10' are provided with a single lens 12' and having aheating element 25 disposed aacent the peripheral edge cf the lens 12'of each unit. In this embodiment of our invention the heating element 25is insulated from the lens holding rim member 16' by means of insulatingbeads 28 which are secured to the lens holding member 16 through the useof a plurality of spaced metallic clips 29.

While we have shown several embodiments of the device of our inventionin the accompanying drawing, it is to be understood that it is capableof various other modifications without departing from the spirit of ourinvention and it is desired therefore that only such limitations shallbe imposed thereon as are required by the prior art or indicated by theappended claims.

We claim:

1. In an article of the class described, a frame member, a pair oflenses in said frame member, a spacer of insulating material interposedbetween said lenses for separating said lenses, said spacer beingprovided with an internal groove and an electric heating elementdisposed in said groove to thereby obtain direct radiation of heat tosaid lenses.

2. In an article of the class described, a frame member, a pair oflenses in said frame member, a spacer of insulating material interposedbetween said lenses for separating said lenses, said spacer beingprovided with an internal V-shape groove centrally disposed relative toits side wall and an electric heating element disposed in said groove tothereby obtain an equal distribution of heat to each of said lenses.

3. In an article of the class described, a pair of lenses, a spacer forseparating said lenses disposed circumferentially thereto to provide anair space between said lenses, a frame member including an inner flangedportion for one of said lenses and an outer flanged portion for theother of said lenses each portion being disposed in contiguous relationwith respect to the outer surface of its respective lens and obtain apredetermined lens aperture and an electric heating element carried bysaid spacer intermediate said lenses and so disposed with respect to theflanged portions of said frame member as to lie outside the projectedeffective area of said lens aperture.

4. In an article of the class described, a pair of lenses, a spacer ofinsulation material for separating said lenses disposedcircumferentially of the edges thereof to provide an air space betweensaid lenses, a frame member including an inner flanged portion for oneof said lenses and an outer flanged portion for the other of said lenseseach portion being disposed in contiguous relation with respect to theouter surface of its respective lens and obtain a predetermined lensaperture and an electric heating element carried by said spacer and sodisposed with respect tc the flanged portions of said frame member as tolie outside the projected effective area of said lens aperture, saidheating element being positioned on said spacer in a manner such that aneven distribution of heat to said lenses is obtained.

ADLAI H. GILKESON. JAMES H. HERR.

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